Dec. 28, 2010
Box Score | Printable Box Score 
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The University of Illinois women's basketball team fell to the California Golden Bears, 65-61, on Tuesday evening despite a furious second-half comeback, which saw the Illini (5-8) pull within two points on several occasions. Sophomore forward Karisma Penn produced her fourth consecutive double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Orange and Blue.
Cal (8-3) led by as many as 13 in the second half, taking a 42-29 lead with 15:48 left in the game, but the Illini charged back with a 13-2 run to get within two after a bucket by freshman Centrese McGee with 10:09 to play. During the run, the Illini held Cal without a field goal for over six minutes. After Cal answered with consecutive jumpers to push the margin to six points, junior forward Lana Rukavina and Penn connected on back-to-back trips down the floor to bring Illinois within two for a second time, 48-46.
In their final push to tie the game, redshirt-freshman guard Amber Moore hit her only two free throw attempts of the contest with 2:26 remaining to put Illinois within one basket, 54-52. California answered with an eight-point run, however, including a back-breaking three by Lindsay Sherbert with 2:06 to play to put the game out of reach.
The Illini fought back in the second half behind a stifling defense, holding the Golden Bears to 9-for-25 shooting while forcing 11 turnovers, and solid play from Penn and McGee.
Penn had just four points and four rebounds at the half, but had a big second half to notch her conference leading eighth double-double while also adding three steals, and two blocks. Moore hit three three-pointers on the night to finish with 11 points, while McGee was the only other Illini in double-figures with 10 points all in the second half.
The Illini took care of the ball better than it has all season, committing season-low 11 turnovers, but shot just 35 percent from the field and 15 percent from behind the arc. California, meanwhile, shot 50 percent from three-point range and outrebounded the Orange and Blue 43-32.
After a slow start, the Illini took their first lead of the game with 8:32 remaining the first half. Moore drilled her first shot attempt on the night to even the score at 13-13 before Alexis Burke converted a layup on the following trip down the floor to give the Illini the lead, 15-13. California (8-3) and Illinois exchanged baskets over the next 3:42, with neither team earning more than a two point lead; however, the Golden Bears went on a 10-0 run over the final five minutes to lead 35-25 at halftime.
The Illini open Big Ten Conference action Thursday night, Dec. 30, at Assembly Hall when the Minnesota Golden Gophers come to town for a 7:30 p.m. tip.
